The Review Club Forum The N word

I wanted to get your opinions on it. Being a white writer is it appropriate to use or not?

Hi, Anthony! ::cool::

You're gonna get a lot of different opinions on that one. For me, it depends on the context. Even then, I'm not wild about it. It's such a touchy subject that you don't even mention the word in this thread's title. Just "N" puts us all right there.

Anthony,

Honestly I have used it. But I agree that it depends on the context. I've always considered the characters. If they would use it, use it. If someone gets bent out of shape about it, then screw em. I really don't think there should be any sacred cows in the English langauge.

Cameron

I'm a little torn. I'm writing a scene where a black man is calling himself that in his mind. Here is the scene. I changed it to Negro and it still works.


�Run Willy run,� his mother�s voice resurfaced like a bloated corpse in a lake. The long tunnel of hallway went dim like a brown out. No I�m browning out, about to black out. Don�t do it man. Fight� Fight you nappy headed Negro... Fight like you fought that Honkey in Kansas.� His legs rebounded from their watery state and went ice stiff. He took an awkward step, wooden like a man on stilts. He stepped through his apartment�s threshold with the grace of a 50�s movie era robot. �Run willy run.� His mothers voiced boomed in his mind. Adrenalin soured his mouth and flight grew paramount. Run but where?

His father�s dream voice, that deep I am working mans voice, JJ�s father from Good Times voice, Spoke to him. "That�s �cuz you�re a Harrison, boy. We're strong� Survivers boy. You hear me we can survive just about anything. Even them white Kracker Kracker Krackers over in Houma with the pointy hats." Four stories up, his door no longer an exit. But he knew of one. I'm a surviver.

Honestly, I don't have any problem with it either way. I mean the character seems to talk that way. But again that's just me.

Thought I'd toss in my two cents here. I was in a writing class this winter where we went round and round about this issue and even whether it is appropriate for white males to write from the pov of women and people of color. It was an eye opening discussion that has no black and white answers. (honestly, no pun intended).

I agree with Cameron, that as a writer/artist it seems to me we have the right to use any word we choose. At the same time, readers always have the right to be offended by whatever they feel offended by. Obviously, some people will be offended by the 'n' word.

For me, it seems a moral question: If I am writing from the POV of someone with a different view of the world than me, I ask myself whether I am choosing to do it for moral reasons. Am I trying to better understand and empathize with this character or am I doing it for shock value or to make fun of the character. That is my personal moral code and every person's is different. Just ask Don Imus.

I think the best you can do is ask yourself if your intentions fit within your own moral code and if you have thick enough skin to deal with the folks who will be offended.

I also agree with Cameron that if someone doesn't like what you've written then screw them. But make sure you are tough enough to take it when they screw you back, 'cause they will. Just ask Don Imus.

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Good lord man, people actually contemplate if white men should be allowed to write in the perspective of a woman if you're a white male? Gezzum we're flesh and blood too. The N words is defiantly touchy territory. Black, you can say it till your teeth fall out (wanted to say blue in the face but even color references can be touchy).

I think the trouble of racial problems today boil down to Black penis's and white female hair. White men are jealous of black penis's (there fault) and black women are jealous of white womens hair (their fault too). Give white men penile enlargements and black women hair transplants and racial harmony will be achieved. Lmao I may have to write that in the story somewhere...lol Sorry the joke just came to me.

Seriously though, I'm going with it for now, may decide later to withdraw it. I did grow up in a black community and while i feel the stance there is no way in hell with males over 24, I think the world (US) is changing. Being a writer in any other country it wouldn't matter. Maybe it would in South Africa. I'd hate to be labeled as raciest but I almost think if you are white and male you automatically are filled as one in America. It saddens me, knowing not a single ancestor of mine owned slaves. But I guess slavery isn't really the issue. We would be in a much better possession if the government would have given the 20,000 acres and a mule. Or do the one time 20 billion dollar pay out. I do believe in atonement but I don't think beyond paying my taxes it is my responsibility. However, you can't idly sit by when injustices occur.

Brent,

All I can say is "only in Seattle" :) Although I've had those discussions too, generally on the other side of the fence as a reporter. Where you have to be concerned about what words you are using and why.

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ain't that the truth.